Furnace



B. GOERG 0 May 30, 1939.

FURNACE Filed 001;. 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BERA/A RD GoERs BY @ATTO NEY Patented May 30, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FURNACE Bernard Goerg, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator &

w Standard Sanitary Corporation,

New York,

N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 21, 1937, Serial No. 170,172

15 Claims.

This invention relates'to furnaces, and more particularly to an improved means for disposing of the ash in furnaces of the type having grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement and an ash pit arranged beneath the grate bars and receivingthe ash falling from said grate.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which Fig. l is a view partially in side elevation and partially in transverse vertical section, showing a furnace constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. l and showing by dotand-dash lines the relative position of the ashremoval opening which is in the furnace front wall and in front of the plane of the section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4--:t of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing in perspective the movable ash-deflecting member.

Referring now in detail to the construction illustrated, it will be observed that I show my invention as incorporated in a boiler furnace,

, indicated in general by the reference character I0, and comprising a rectangular fuel-supporting grate II dividing the interior of the furnace into a combustion chamber I2 and an ash pit I3. The combustion chamber I2 is shown as being defined by vertically arranged boiler sections 14 disposed in side-by-side relation. The ash pit i3 is defined by a front wall I5, a rear wall I6, and side walls I! and I8 joining the ends of the front and rear walls. The boiler sections It are supported by the upper edges of the front, rear and side walls of the ash pit. The entire structure is inclosed by a suitable jacket 20, and a suitable heat insulating material 2iv is provided between the jacket 20 and the sections It.

The ash pit It comprises a main portion 22 centrally disposed beneath the grate II and coextensive therewith, and a pair of pockets or spaces 23 and 26 at the sides thereof and adjacent the side walls ii and I8, respectively. The spaces 23 and 24 are offset laterally from the adjacent sides, respectively, of the grate II and extend from the front wall I5 to the rear wall I6. The front wall I5 is provided with a rectangular ash-removal opening 25 which, as shown, may be approximately centrally disposed with respect to the grate II andof suboscillatory movement about substantially parallel axes. To this end, each of the grate bars 26 is provided at its opposite ends with aligned trunnion pockets 2! which receive, respectively, and are supported by aligned grate trunnions 28 extending inwardly from the upper edge of the side walls I1 and I8.

Each grate bar is provided with an operating crank arm 30 which depends from the end of the grate bar which is adjacent the side wall I! and into the space 23, hereinafter referred to as the grate-operating space 23. Each crank arm is provided with a crank pin 3| extending away from the grate II and towards the side wall H. the same length and size and the crank pins 3| are arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane when the grate bars 26 are in their center position, the position shown on the drawings.

The grate bars 26 are adapted to be rocked back and forth about their axes by manual means. To this end, a grate connecting bar 33 extends longitudinally of the grate-operating space 23 and is supported for lengthwise reciprocatory movement by suitable openings (not shown) extending through the front and rear Wall I 5 and I6, respectively. The bar 33 is provided with a series of vertically elongated The crank arms 30 are preferably of openings or slots 34 extending therethroughf equal in number to and spaced the same dis- The bar 33 extends through the front and rear walls [5 and I5, and means is provided exteriorly of the furnace for manually reciprocating the grate bars for the purpose aforementioned. Vfhile the manual means may be connected either to the forward or to the rearward extension of the bar 33 without departing from the present invention, I have elected to show the manual means as connected to the forward extension (see Fig. 1). The forward end of the bar is connected by a pin 35 with a vertical lever 35. The lower end of the lever is fulcrumed by a pin 31 carried by a bracket 38 fixed to the front wall l5, and the upper end of the lever is adapted to be grasped by the hand for movement backward and forward toward the front wall 15, such movement resulting in reciprocatory movement of the bar 33, as will be readily understood. It is to be noted that it is not necessary for the lever to be located in line with the bar 33, because the lever could equally as well be located at the side of the furnace. In the latter case, any suitable motion-transmitting devices would be provided for connecting the lever 36 and bar 33.

In order to facilitate the removal of ashes from the furnace and to eliminate the scattering of ashes and dust in the basement, I provide an ash pan 55 which is here shown to be approximately centrally arranged in the ash pit and directly beneath the grate l I, and is adapted to receive the ashes as they fall through the grate. The ash pan is of slightly less width than the opening 25 to permit its manual insertion and removal therethrough, and is of substantially the same dimensions as the grate II and the main portion 22 of the ash pit.

It is of course desirable that the ash pan be as large as possible in order to receive all of the ashes falling through the grate. In other words, it would be desirable to have the ash pan as wide as the ash pit so as to assure that all the ash falling from the outer edges of the grate would enter the pan. This is impractical, however, due to the fact that the width of the ash pan 45 is limited by the width of the opening 25, and the width of the latter is limited by the structural strength requirements of the defining wall through which the opening 25 extends which is the front wall l5. The width of the opening 25 is also limited by other structural reasons, such as the design and location of the grate-shaking mechanism and the hinge support for the ash door 25a. From a practical view point, the opening 25 cannot be much wider than the grate, unless the wall through which the opening 25 extends be substantially wider than that shown, and such a construction as the latter would involve other structural changes which would affect the general design, cost and appearance of the entire structure.

In order to assure that ash falling from the edges of the grate will enter the pan, I provide ash-deflecting means above and around the four sides of the pan which cause such ash to move laterally into the pan. This deflecting means comprises a deflecting plate 42 extending along and fixed to the rear wall l6 and having an inclined deflecting surface 53 overhanging the adjacent edge of the pan 40, a deflecting plate 44 extending along and fixed to the side wall l8 and having an upper deflecting surface 45 closing off the space 24 and overhanging the adjacent upper edge of the pan 40, and a deflector plate 45 extending along and. fixed to the ash pit door 250. which closes the ash removal opening 25 and having an upper ash-deflecting surface 48 overhanging at its lower edge the front edge of the pan. Along the remaining edge of the pan 40 which is adjacent the grate-operating space, the problem cannot be met by a rigidly secured deflector plate, such as the plates 42, 44 and 45, due to the fact that the movable grate-operating means occupies this space.

In order to assure that ash falling from the edge of the grate adjacent the grate-operating space 23 is deflected laterally into the pan, I provide an ash-deflecting device 50. The device 50 comprises a supporting plate member 5| extending longitudinally of the grate-operating space and having a substantially flat upper supporting surface 52 and an outer longitudinal edge 53 overhanging the adjacent edge of the pan G5. The supporting plate is fixed to the side wall I! by brackets 54 and bolts 55. The ash-deflecting device 50 also comprises an element 56 extending longitudinally of the space 23 and slidably supported by that portion of the surface 52 which is remote from the pan 40. The element 56 is connected to the crank pins 3| for movement therewith.

The element 56 is angle-shaped in cross section and comprises a horizontally extending supporting part 58 having its under surface in sliding engagement with the surface 52 and a vertically extending ash-shielding part 59 which is provided with a series of vertically elongated openings or slots 5|] through which the crank pins 3| extend. The slots 60 are spaced apart the same distance as the crank pins, as shown. Therefore, when the pins 3| are moved by the bar 33, the element 56 is moved back and forth longitudinally of the space.

The vertical part 59 provides a shield which prevents ash from falling behind it. Ash collecting on the uncovered part of the surface 52 will be moved laterally across such surface and into the pan 40 by spaced V-shaped projections 5|. In order to prevent ash from entering between the bearing portion of the surface 52 and the under surface of the element 56 and working past the supporting part 58, the under surface of the part 58 is provided with a series of V-shaped notches 62 disposed side-by-side and opening toward the pan 45. Therefore, any ash tending to enter between the bearing surfaces will be deflected toward the pan 40 by the inclined edges of the notches 62.

It is to be noted that, while I have elected to disclose in one preferred embodiment the element 55 as being a separate part moved by the pins 3!, in so far as the broader aspects of my invention are concerned, the .element 55 may besecured to the bar 33 for movement therewith, or the element 56 and bar 33 may even be formed as an integral piece.

From the above, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved form of furnace, wherein all of the ash falling from an ash-shaking grate falls into a pan, and the pan may be readily removed, the ashes emptied and the pan replaced with a minimum of dust and dirt in the basement. It will also be apparent that one of the main contributing factors to the beneficial new results attained by my construction is the fact that I have provided deflecting means around the sides of the ash pit which provides for lateral movement of ash into the pan; and that this deflecting means includes as a part thereof, a deflecting device which is movable with the grate-operating arms for deflecting the ash;

the ash pit in case it is desired to inspect, repair;

or replace parts, or in case it is desired to remove the ashes by hand should the ash pan be damaged, deteriorated, or the like. Itis for this latter rea son that I prefer to secure the deflector plate 46 to the door 25a rather than to the stationary parts of the defining walls of the ash pit. 1

It is also to be noted that, while I have shown my invention as incorporated in a rectangular furnace of the boiler type, it is not to be considered as so limited in all of its aspects,-fo'r in so far as its broader aspects are concerned, it may be incorporated in any furnace having an ash-shaking grate and grate-operating elements depending from a side of the grate.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grateoperating elements depending respectively from the ends of the grate barsatone side of the ash pit; a removable ash pan supported "directly beneath thegrate in ash-receiving position; and means arranged around the sides of the ash pit and above the ash pan'for directing ash falling from the sides of said grate into'said pan, and including an element movable withsaid'grata operating elements for moving ash laterally into said pan.

2. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating the latter; walls defining an ash pit beneath the grate and includinga grate-operating space extending along the side of the gratefrom which the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removableash pan arranged beneath the grate in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space fordireoting falling ash into the ash pan and including an element connecting said grate-operating arms and movable therewith for moving ash laterally into said pan.

3. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting gratecomprising a plurality ,of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; a plurality of grate-operating arms depending respectivelyfrom the ends of the grate bars along one side of the grate; Wall means defining an ash pit located beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space located below and extending along the side of the grate from which the arms depend; one of the defining Walls of said ash pithaving an ash-removal opening therein; an ash pan arranged within the ash pit beneath said grate and being of a width to permit its insertion and removal through said opening; and means arranged above and along the sides of said pan for deflecting the ashes falling from the edges, of said grate laterally into said pan; said means including a supporting plate member arranged lengthwise of said grate-operating, space and-having a longitudinal edge portion overhanging the adjacent upper edge of said pan, and including an ashdefiecting member slidably supported by said plate member and connected for movement with said grate-operating-arms for moving ash laterally into said pan.

. 4. In a furnace, a fuel-operating grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating the latter; walls defining an ash pit beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space extending along the side of the grate from which the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removable ash pan arranged beneath the grate in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space for deflecting falling ash laterally into the ash pan and comprising a' supporting plate member extending longitudinally of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of the ash. pan, and'an ash-deflecting member slidably supportedby said plate member and connected for movement with. said grate-operating arms for moving. ash laterally into said pan.

5. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement;- grateeoperating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating'the latter; walls defining an ash pit beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space extending along the side of the grate from which the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removable ash pan arranged beneath the grate in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space for deflecting falling ash laterally into the ash pan and comprising a supporting plate member extending longitudinally of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of the ash pan, and anash-deflecting member extending longitudinally of said space and being angleshaped in cross section, with one side of the angle being slidably supported by said supporting plate member and the other side of said angle ex tending upwardly to form an ash shield and being connected for movement with said grate-operating arms.

6. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality. of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from. thegrate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating the latter; walls. defining an ash pit beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space extending along the side of thegrate from which. the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removable ash pan arranged beneath the grate-in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space for deflecting falling. ash laterally into said ash pan and comprising a stationary plate member extending longitudinally of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of said pan and having a substantially flat upper supporting surface, and an ash-deflecting member extending longitudinally of said space and supported for lengthwise slidable movement on the part of said upper supporting surface which is remote from said pan, said ash-deflecting member being operatively connected to said grate-operating arms for movement thereby and having elements projecting toward said pan for moving ash lodging on the uncovered part of said fiat upper surface laterally across said uncovered surface and into said pan.

7. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating the latter; walls defining an ash pit beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space extending along the side of the grate from which the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removable ash pan arranged beneath the grate in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space for deflecting falling ash laterally into said ash pan and comprising a stationary plate member extending longitudinally of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of said pan and having a substantially fiat upper supporting surface, and an ash-deflecting member extending longitudinally of said space and supported for lengthwise slidable movement on the part of said upper supporting surface which is remote from said pan, said ash-deflecting memher being operatively connected to said grateoperating arms for movement thereby and having V-shaped elements projecting across the remaining part of said fiat upper surface and toward said pan so as to deflect ash lodged on said surface into said pan.

8. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating the latter; walls defining an ash pit beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space extending along the side of the grate from which the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removable ash pan arranged beneath the grate in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space for deflecting falling ash laterally into said pan; said means comprising a stationary supporting plate member extending longitudinally of said space with one edge thereof overhanging said side of the pan and having an upper supporting surface, and an ash-deflecting member extending longitudinall of said space and having an under surface engaging the part of said upper surface which is remote from said pan for lengthwise sliding movement, one of said surfaces having a plurality of V-shaped notches formed therein and arranged side-by-side with their open side towards said pan so as to insure movement of ash from between said surfaces and toward said pan, and means connecting said ash-deflecting memher to said grate-operating arms for movement thereby.

9. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected respectively to the grate bars for operating the latter; walls defining an ash pit beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space extending along the side of the grate from which the arms depend and receiving the latter; a removable ash pan arranged beneath the grate in position to receive ash falling therefrom and having a side extending in the same direction as the grate-operating space and adjacent thereto; and means in said grate-operating space for deflecting falling ash laterally into said pan; said means comprising a stationary supporting plate member extending longitudinally of said space with one edge thereof overhanging said side of the pan and having an upper supporting surface, and an ash-deflecting member extending longitudinally of said space and having an under surface engaging the part of said upper surface which is remote from said pan for lengthwise sliding movement thereon, one of said surfaces having a plurality of V-shaped notches formed therein and arranged side-by-side with their open side towards said pan so as to insure movement of ash from between said surfaces and toward said pan, spaced projections on said ashdeflecting member at points adjacent said supporting plate and extending across said plate towards said pan, and means operatively connecting said ash-deflecting member to said grateoperating arms for movement thereby. V

10. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comm nected respectively at their upper ends to said grate bars and each arm including a crank pin at its lower end and extending away from said grate; upright walls defining an ash pit disposed below said grate; said ash pit including a main portion directly beneath and coextensive with said grate and a grate-operating space offset laterally from the side of the grate from which the crank arms depend and receiving the latter; means connecting said crank pins and movable back and forth lengthwise of said space for rocking said grate bars about their respective axes; a removable ash pan arranged beneath said grate and having a side arranged directly adjacent said grate-operating space; a stationary supporting plate arranged lengthwise of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of said ash pan; and an ash-deflecting member extending lengthwise of said space and comprising a supporting part slidably supported by said plate and an upwardly extending ash-shield part connected to said crank pins for movement thereby.

11. In a furnace, a fuel-supporing grate comprising a plurality of similarly extending grate bars supported for rocking movement about substantially parallel axes; crank arms depending from said grate along one side thereof and connected respectively at their upper ends to said grate bars and each arm including a crank pin at its lower end extending away from said grate; upright walls defining an ash pit disposed below said grate; said ash pit including a main portion directly beneath and coextensive with said grate and a grate-operating space offset laterally from the side of the grate from which the crank arms depend and receiving the latter; means connecting said crank pins and movable back and forth lengthwise of said space for rocking said grate bars about their respective axes; a removable ash pan arranged beneath said grate and having a side arranged directly adjacent said grate-operating space; a stationary supporting plate arranged lengthwise of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of said ash pan; and an ash-deflecting member extending lengthwise of said space and comprising a supporting part slidably supported by said plate, and an upwardly extending ash-shield part having spaced vertical slots therethrough receiving respectively the crank pins, so that as the latter are oscillated the ash-deflecting part is moved lengthwise back and forth along the supporting plate and ash falling from the adjacent edge of the grate is deflected into said ash pan.

12. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of similarly extending grate bars supported for rocking movement about substantially parallel axes; crank arms depending from said grate along one side thereof and connected respectively at their upper ends to said grate bars and each arm including a crank pin at its lower end extending away from said grate; upright walls defining an ash pit disposed below said grate; said ash pit including a main portion directly beneath and coextensive with said grate and a grate-operating space offset laterally from the side of the grate from which the crank arms depend and receiving the latter; means connecting said crank pins and movable back and forth lengthwise of said space for rocking said grate bars about their respective axes; a removable ash pan arranged beneath said grate and having a side arranged directly adjacent said grate-operating space; a stationary supporting plate arranged lengthwise of said space and having a longitudinal edge overhanging said side of said ash pan; and an ash-deflecting member extending lengthwise of said space and comprising a supporting part slidably supported by the side of said plate which is remote from said pan, an upwardly extending ash-shield part having spaced vertical slots therethrough receiving respectively the crank pins so that as the latter are oscillated the ash-deflecting part is moved lengthwise back and forth along said supporting plate, and spaced projections extending from said supporting part and towards said pan for moving ash laterally across said supporting plate and into said pan.

13. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; grate-operating arms depending from the grate along one side thereof and connected to the grate bars for operating the latter; a removable ash receptacle arranged beneath said grate; a plate member extending lengthwise beneath the side of the grate from which said arms depend and having an outer edge overhanging said ash receptacle; and means movable with said grate-operating arms for moving ash from said plate member into said pan.

14. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; a plurality of grateoperating arms depending respectively from the ends of the grate bars along one side of the grate and movable back-and-forth in the same general direction to impart ash-shaking movement to said bars; wall means defining an ash pit located beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space offset laterally from said grate and extending lengthwise along the side of the grate from which the arms depend for receiving the latter and extending in the same general direction as the direction of movement of the arms; a removable ash pan arranged beneath said grate for'receiving the ash falling therethrough and including a side located adjacent to and extending in the same general direction as the grate-operating space; and ash deflecting means located in said grate-operating space and extending longitudinally thereof for deflecting any ash falling from the adjacent edge of said grate laterally into said ash pan; said last-named means comprising a wall member connected to said grate-operating arms for movement back-and-forth therewith and the wall member extending lengthwise of said space and providing an upright ash-shielding surface in said space and offset laterally from the adjacent side of said grate and facing the adjacent side of said ash pan and said means also comprising an ash deflecting wall member extending lengthwise of said space beneath said ash-shielding surface and overhanging the adjacent side of said ash pan.

15. In a furnace, a fuel-supporting grate comprising a plurality of grate bars supported for ash-shaking movement; a plurality of grate-operating arms depending respectively from the ends of the grate bars along one side of the grate and movable back-and-forth in the same general direction to impart ash-shaking movement to said bars; wall means defining an ash pit located beneath the grate and including a grate-operating space offset laterally from said grate and extending lengthwise along the side of the grate from which the arms depend for receiving the latter and extending in the same general direction as the direction of movement of the arms; a removable ash pan arranged beneath said grate for receiving the ash falling therethrough and including a side located adjacent to and extending in the same general direction as the grate-operating space; and ash deflecting means located in said grate-operating space and extending longitudinally thereof for deflecting any as hfalling from the adjacent edge of said grate laterally into said ash pan; said last-named means comprising a wall member extending lengthwise of said space and including an upwardly extending ash-shielding surface facing said pan and a defleeting surface extending laterally from the ashshielding surface towards said pan; means for supporting said wall member for reciprocatory motion lengthwise of said space; and means for connecting said wall member to said grate-operating arms so that as the grate-operating arms are operated, the wall member moves back-andforth with said arms.

BERNARD GOERG. 

